Vijayawada: Fuel prices have increased sharply once again across the country. Oil marketing companies have announced a fresh hike of ₹2.61 per litre for petrol and ₹2.71 per litre for diesel in Andhra Pradesh. Following this, the AP Federation of Petroleum Dealers has urged the state civil supplies department to permit full-tank fuelling for heavy goods and passenger vehicles by directing oil marketing companies (OMCs) to remove the restriction that prevents retail outlets from dispensing more than 200 litres of fuel in a single transaction.
Revised Fuel Rates in Key Cities
Under the revised rates, petrol is priced at ₹117.16 per litre and diesel at ₹104.89 in Vijayawada. In Visakhapatnam, petrol costs ₹116.39 and diesel ₹104.11, while Tirupati recorded petrol at ₹117.08 and diesel at ₹104.75—among the highest in the country, adding to the burden on transporters.
Dealers and Lorry Owners Seek Removal of Cap
In a joint representation to Civil Supplies Commissioner K Kanna Babu, the AP Federation of Petroleum Traders and AP Lorry Owners Association stated that heavy vehicles, including lorries and buses, typically have tank capacities of 350–400 litres. However, the cap on dispensing more than 200 litres per transaction has placed dealers in a difficult position, as operators insist on full-tank refuelling during long-haul trips.
“Dealers dispensing more than 200 litres face notices, blocked sales through automation systems and punitive action from OMCs such as HPCL and BPCL, affecting business operations and livelihoods,” the representation said. The associations added that diesel is also supplied to farmers, aquaculture units, borewell operators and hospital generators based on authorised letters from officials such as MROs, making uninterrupted supply essential, particularly during peak agricultural and summer demand periods.
Urgent Need for Policy Change
They urged the government to direct OMCs to remove the cap and ensure smooth functioning of retail outlets and uninterrupted fuel supply to the transport, agriculture and allied sectors across the state. The federation emphasized that the current restriction is impractical for commercial transport operations and hinders essential services.
Impact on Various Sectors
The fuel price hike and the 200-litre cap have compounded challenges for transporters, who are already grappling with high operational costs. The agriculture sector, which relies on diesel for irrigation and machinery, is also affected during the peak summer season. The associations called for immediate intervention to prevent disruptions in fuel supply.
About the Author
Sri Krishna Kummara, a Senior Digital Content Creator at The Times of India-Vijayawada, covers developments related to VMC, Medical & Health, Transport, Metro, APSRTC, Railway and Airport stories. He holds a graduate degree in BA with Journalism, Psychology and Literature as core subjects.
